The longest over water flight to date, accomplished by the U.S. Army Air Service in 1927. Chief of Army Air Service, Major General Patrick, standing between Pilot, Lt. Lester J. Maitland, and Navigator, Lt. Albert F. Hegenberger in front of their Fokker C-2-3 trimotor airplane, named the Bird of Paradise. General Patrick is wishing them farewell as they are about to depart on their transoceanic flight from Oakland California to Honolulu, Hawaii. Animation of aircraft leaving Oakland Airport. Fokker C-2-3 in flight. Animation of the longest over water flight ever attempted, 2400 miles, Oakland to Honolulu.

Opening scene shows several aircraft and aircrews on an Airfield in Oakland, California, readying for the Dole Air Race to Hawaii. A modified Travel Air 5000 aircraft, NX869, named "Woolaroc," is seen in the near foreground. Behind it is another Travel Air 5000, named "Oklahoma." Next, the "Oklahoma" and the "Aloha"(NX914), a Breese-Wilde 5 Monoplane are seen with engines running and taxiing. The "Aloha" takes off and climbs sharply after gaining airspeed. Several Wickes-class destroyers are seen steaming underway. (Slate reports they patrol the course to be flown over the Pacific.) Scene shifts to wreckage of the "Angel of Los Angeles" a twin engine Bryant Monoplane, which crashed on a test flight at Montebello, California. (Pilot, Arthur V. Rogers, bailed out at the last minute but his parachute didn't fully open and he was killed.) Next is shown the wreckage of the "Pride of Los Angeles," an International CF-10 Triplane, after crashing into San Francisco Bay on August 11th. Pilots J. L. Giffin and Theodore S. Lundgren are seen stepping from the water, unhurt. A crane, on a barge, lifts the wreckage from the shallow water.

Fliers in the Dole Derby air race take off for Hawaii. The "City of Oakland," a Travel Air 5000 aircraft is seen being readied for flight. Pilot Ernie Smith and navigator Emory Bronte pose at the front of the aircraft, inspecting the engine and propeller. Closeup of the two. Next, a mechanic hand-cranks the engine to start it. Pilot, Smith climbs into the cockpit and closes its door. On July 14th, the aircraft is seen on takeoff roll toward and past the camera, which continues to track it through the takeoff. (The aircraft ran out of fuel and crash landed on the island of Molokai, in Hawaii on July 15th. Smith and Bronte were flown by Army aircraft to Wheeler field, the same day, where they were feted as the first civilians to fly across the Pacific.)

Aerial view of airfield at Oakland, California. Pilot, Bennett Griffin, is seen with his wife and child, standing beside his Travel Air 5000 airplane,"Oklahoma." Registration number:"N-X 911" is stenciled on its tail. Pilot Martin Jensen, saying farewell to members of his family in front of his airplane,"Aloha" (that finished second in the race). Aircraft being readied for takeoff. Starter with checkered flag stands ready as nine men push the Travel Air 5000 "Oklahoma, the first to take off, forward into starting position, with engine running. Next scene shows starter holding stopwatch and flag. He signals start with the flag. Scene shifts to the second aircraft to take off, the Goddard Special metal monoplane, NX5074, "El Encanto." Camera tracks as the airplane has difficulty breaking ground, skipping several times in a long ground roll. Suddenly, it veers off the the right in a crab, wiping out its landing gear and breaking part of its right wing as it flips over in a crash leaving it tilted on its left wing facing backwards. Some smoke is seen but quickly disappears. Men and rescue personnel rush to the scene. (Reportedly the crew was unhurt.) Next, the prototype Lockheed Vega 1 monoplane, NX913, "Golden Eagle," is making smooth takeoff. Navigator Gordon Scott waves to spectators below as the plane climbs out. Aerial view of the plane in flight. The "Miss Doran," a Buhl CA-5 Air Sedan, number NC2915, is seen next on takeoff, past photographers and spectators, and then airborne. Next, the Breese-Wilde 5 Monoplane, NX914, "Aloha" is seen taking off. It climbs out very slowly. Navigator Paul Schluter waves as they depart. Pilot Arthur C. Goebel and navigator, Willian V. Davis Jr. are seen next by their plane "Woolaroc." A woman wishes them good luck, with a bouquet of flowers. Next, men are seen pushing the "Woolaroc" and it takes off and climbs. Pre-departure footage of Pilot Gordon Scott and navigator John W. Frost, with friends, near their airplane, "Golden Eagle." (Their aircraft vanished in the Pacific.) Pre-departure footage of pilot John Augie Pedlar, navigator Lieutenant Vilas R. Knopie, and their passenger, Mildred Doran, whose aircraft, "Miss Doran," was also lost in the Pacific.